Marathon runner completing 53 marathons in 53 days brings her record attempt to Norfolk

A runner who is attempting to break a world record by running 53 marathons in 53 cities in 53 consecutive days has raced into Norwich.

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Amy Hughes, from Shropshire, had already completed 23 marathons – 598 miles – before arriving in Norwich, on Thursday, and has said she hasn’t found it too bad, yet.

“I’m feeling good, I have no injuries, just a few blisters,” said the 26-year old.

“It’s been hard, but it’s a good hard. There have been good days and some are worse than others. Yesterday in Peterborough was a good day. I just can’t believe how quickly it’s gone.”

The keen runner, who is a sports therapist and a carer, is a veteran of marathon running. She has already completed around 15 before this challenge and admits she didn’t have to do too much training to prepare.

“I’m always running, so I haven’t really done a lot more training. I’ve just been making sure I get the nutrition side right.” Admitting that her family think she is mad, Ms Hughes is running for a worthy cause and has so far raised nearly £10,000 of her £53,000 target for the Shropshire-based charity the Isabelle Lottie Foundation, a charity that supports children and their families following the diagnosis of a brain tumour.

“It’s a local charity for me and it’s quite a small one and is such a good cause.

“It’s close to my heart because a friend of mine has a relative that uses the charity,” said Ms Hughes, who is completing each marathon in five to six hours.

“I decided I was going to do something big for charity and encourage people to get fit and active.”

Throughout her marathons, Ms Hughes is being joined by local people as she makes her way through the cities and was joined in Norwich by Andrew Shorthose the operations manager of the Maids Head Hotel in Tombland and a keen runner.

“Amy’s team rung up the hotel and asked if they could get accomodation, but we were full so offered them something to eat and then I was asked if I wanted to run. I’m just hoping to run the whole 26 miles,” said Mr Shorthose.

Once Ms Hughes has completed the 53 cities, she will have run a total of 1,378 miles. Lands End to John O’Groats is 968 miles.